[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 155 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    222D ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

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                           HON. FLOYD SPENCE

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 5, 1997

  Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues and all citizens of 
this Nation join me in congratulating the men and women of our U.S. 
Marine Corps as they celebrate the 222nd anniversary of the birth of 
the corps this Monday, November 10.
  In commemoration of this event, I would like to include for the 
record a description of the creation of the Marine Corps in 1775 and a 
brief summary of the history of the Marines ``from the Halls of 
Montezuma'' to the evacuation of American citizens from strife-ridden 
Sierra Leone.


                       U.S. Marine Corps Heritage

  On Friday, 10 November 1775, Col. Benedict Arnold stood on the banks 
of the St. Lawrence River and looked in frustration across a mile of 
storm-whipped water at the objective--Quebec. It was critical that 
Arnold's army execute the crossing before British reinforcements 
arrived.
  Outside Boston on that same day, Gen. George Washington and his army 
were encamped at Cambridge. Although reasonably provisioned, there were 
shortages of blankets, uniforms, and powder.
  In Philadelphia that same Friday morning, the President of the 
Congress, John Hancock, convened the Second Continental Congress to 
consider the situations near Quebec and Cambridge. Major items of 
discussion focused on relieving pressure from Arnold's army by securing 
Nova Scotia and replenishing Washington's army with the captured 
supplies.
  The success of the Nova Scotia plan called for the creation of two 
battalions of Marines from Washington's army. Accordingly, the 
Continental Congress resolved that two battalions of Marines would be 
raised and they ``be able to serve to advantage by sea when required.'' 
The new battalions would be distinguished as the First and Second 
Battalions of American Marines.
  General Washington considered the decision to raise the Marine 
battalions from his army impractical. Congress relieved Washington of 
this responsibility and ordered the Marine battalions to be created 
independently of the army.
  The expedition to Nova Scotia was eventually abandoned, but Congress 
refused to abandon the resolution to form two new Marine battalions. 
The Continental Congress continued to maintain the idea of a Corps of 
Marines. During the subsequent decades and centuries, Congress has 
continued to nurture and support America's Marines.
  In the aftermath of World War II, Congress directed the maintenance 
of a versatile and efficient Marine force. Congress resolved that a 
highly mobile and alert force of Marines should always be in position 
to impede a full-scale enemy aggression, while the American Nation is 
given time to mobilize its vast defense machinery. This capability 
remains the hallmark of today's Marine Corps.
  Throughout their 222-year history, the U.S. Marine Corps has lived up 
to its reputation as America's most efficient force. Characterized by 
its amphibious, expeditionary, and combined arms capabilities, the 
Marine Corps has followed congressional direction that it ``remain most 
ready when the Nation is least ready.''
  Since their creation in 1775, the marines have served our Nation in 
virtually ever clime and place:
  They were with John Paul Jones and Gen. George Washington during the 
American Revolution.
  They stormed the shores of Tripoli in 1805, and raised the U.S. flag 
for the first time in the Eastern Hemisphere.
  They were the first United States troops to enter the capital and to 
occupy the Halls of Montezuma in Mexico City during the Mexican War.
  They were at Bull Run and New Orleans during the Civil War, in Cuba 
and the Philippines during the Spanish-American War, and in China 
during the Boxer Rebellion.
  They fought at Belleau Wood, Soisson, St. Michiel, and the Argonne 
during World War I.
  They pioneered the concept of close air support in Nicaragua as 
marine aviators flew the first air missions in support of infantry 
forces.
  They confirmed the legitimacy of amphibious warfare at Guadalcanal, 
Bougainville, Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa during their World 
War II island campaign in the Pacific.
  They executed the classic amphibious assault at Inchon, and became 
the first military organization to conduct helicopter operations in 
battle.
  They destroyed seven enemy divisions at the Chosin Reservoir during 
the war in Korea.
  They added to their lineage the names Da Nang, Hue City, Phu Bai, and 
Khe Sanh during the war in Vietnam.
  They supported our Nation's interests in Beirut, Grenada, and Panama.
  They embraced the techniques of vertical short takeoff, landing high-
performance aircraft, and new concepts such as maritime prepositioned 
shipping.
  They demonstrated their quick response, combat readiness, and 
logistical sustainability during the gulf war.
  They demonstrated the capabilities of versatile forces in 
humanitarian assistance operations by distributing food to the starving 
people of Somalia.
  Thus far in 1997, our marines have conducted or contributed to 14 
operations beyond normal readiness training. The most recent of these 
was Operation Noble Obelisk, during which our marines assisted in the 
evacuation of more than 2,500 American citizens from Sierra Leone in 
late May and early June.
  It is with these events in mind, that I say, ``Happy Birthday, 
Marines.''

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